Just over a year ago, I started my journey in the esports industry as an intern. Fast forward to today, and I am the director of an esports/media company while also leading our newest endeavor – Aquatik Studios. Interestingly, Aquatik is my first job post-college. I made sure to take every opportunity available to me while I was in school. Internships, club participation, and founding a sales club were all steps in my pursuit of opportunity. If there was one thing I learned during school, it was that a network rich in both size and diversity is the key to successful growth as a professional.
This key is what unlocks the doors to the future of innovation in our industry. A team of diverse individuals bringing the knowledge pool from a myriad of backgrounds will find new ways to tackle issues. As the thoughts collected in a team evolve, so too will the industry they seek to impact.
If diversity is the key to the future of innovation, then inclusivity is the lock which holds the door in place. If a team can cultivate an environment of inclusivity and allow all members of the team to feel needed and welcome, their voices will bring forth new ideas and new methods of expression that ultimately benefit the industry at large.
Gaming and esports have been viewed as a single-demographic activity by many in the past. To progress toward the future, we must acknowledge that both gaming and esports are for everyone. A key lesson I learned when helping to start Aquatik in 2020 was that the potential of this unique industry is limitless. The opportunity to revolutionize and evolve the human social experience through experiential media is ripe for the taking by those willing to pursue it.
In my role as the lead of Aquatik Studios, which is pioneering the way that development studios of all shapes and sizes launch their latest games via turnkey content solutions, we provide unrivaled access to modern production studios and state-of-the-art technologies. Whether it be content creation, administrative support, or a team of industry experts, Aquatik Studios is disrupting the status quo of game marketing and game release strategy at its most fundamental level.
Every day I am grateful for having the opportunity to work with the Aquatik team. Their years of experience and diverse backgrounds have not only allowed me to grow in my position and as a person; these opportunities enable me to positively impact the gaming industry for the next generation of professionals.
